Gauge



. Sept. 22, 1.94.2. J, A, RQ5TQN 2,296,707

GAUGE Filed Marh 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor fakaz A K I O 2 vsheets-sheet 2 Sept- 22, 1942 J. A. cRosToN 'GAUGE Filed March 2. 1942 Patented sept. 22, 1942 UNITED, STATES PATENTA OFFICE GAUGE .lohn A. Croston, Parkland, Wash. Application March 2, 1942, Serial No. 433,076A

' 2 claims. (ci. 33 172) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in .gauges or indicators for use particularly in lathes, boring machines, planers,

r etc.` and has for its primary object to provide',

in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an instrument of this character comprising anovel'construction, combination and arrangement of parts whereby the device may be expeditiously adjusted to meet various conditions that may be encountered.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a gauge of the aforementioned character with which various makes of conventional dial indicators may be used.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a gauge or dial indicating device of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efcient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters vof reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elcvationvof a gauge,

constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a View in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the instrument.

Figure 5 is a detail view in sideelevation of the contact finger.

Figure' is a view in end elevation of the male member of the longitudinally extensible plunger.'

Figure 'l is a perspective View of the female member of the plunger.

Figure 8 is aperspective view of the male member ofthe plunger.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the sleeve in which the plunger is mounted.

Figure 10 isl a detail view in top plan of the resilient clamp in which the sleeve is mounted.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a bar I of suitable metal for mounting in the lathe or other machine, said bar being substantially rectangular in cross-section, as seen in Figure 3 end of the bar I is an integral arm 2.`V At its free or forward end,l the` arm 2 terminates in an upwardly offset longitudinally projecting split tubularclamp 3.

Firmly secured on the bar I is a conventional dial indicator 4 comprising a pointer 5. The indicator 4 further includes a slidable pin or the like 6 which actuates the pointer 5. The pin 6 of the indicator 4 is aligned with the clamp 3.

Mounted for rotary and sliding adjustment in the clamp 3 is a sleeve 1. On the forward end of the sleeve 1 is a fork 8. Journaled on a pin 9 between the bifurcations of the fork 8 is a workcontacting linger I0 which terminates in a ball head II on its free end. Formed integrally with the pivoted end of the contact linger I0 is a pair of spacedl cams I2, the purpose of which will be presently set forth.

Slidably mounted in the sleeve 'I is a longitudinally extensible plunger which is designated generally by reference numeral I4. The plunger I4 comprises telescopic male and female members, I5 and I6, respectively. The female member I6 includes, on its forward end, a substantially flat head I1 which is slidable between the bifurcations of the fork 8, said head including oppositely inclined faces I8 with which the cams I2 are engaged for actuating the plunger I4 toward the indicator 4 when the nger I0 is swung in either direction on its pivot 9.

The male member I5 of the plunger I4 comprises a longitudinally split, expanded inner end portion I9 which frictionally secures said male member in' adjusted position in the female member I6. The other end portion of the male member I5 is tapered, as at 20, and is engageable with the pin 6 for actuating the indicator 4.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, as the finger I0 engages the work and is caused to swing on its pivot 9 thereby, one of the cams I2, according to the direction in which the finger is swung, engages the adjacent face I8 of the head I'I for moving the plunger I4 toward the indicator 4 thus actuating said indicator. The rotary mounting Iof the sleeve 1 in the split resilient clamp 3 permits the finger I0 to be swung to any desired position. To extend the instrument, .the sleeve 'l is moved for- Wardly in the resilient clamp 3l until the finger I0 is in the desired position. The telescopic plunger I4 is then extended to engagethe male member I5 with the pin 6 of the indicator 4 and the head I'I of the female member I6 is engaged yof the drawings. Projecting from the forward with the cams I2. The device is now ready for operation, the adjustment of the male and female members I5 and IB, respectively, of the plunger Il being frictlonally maintained by the expanded end portion I9 of said male member. 0f course, the split clamp 3 frictionally secures the sleeve 1 in adjusted position. The construction and arrangement is such that the instrument may be expeditiously assembled or disassembled.

It is believed that th many advantages of a gauge or indicating device constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily Y understood and although a preferred embodiment of the instrument is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in .the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.`

What is claimed is: g, l l 1. A gauge of the character described comprising a bar, an indicator mounted on said bar, a

longitudinally split, resilient tubular clamp on the bar, a sleeve rotatably and slidably mounted in the clamp and-rictionally secured in adjusted position therein, a plunger slidable in `said sleeve and operatively connected to theindicator. and a work-actuated contact iinger pivotally mounted on the sleeve and operatively connected to said plunger, the plunger including telescopically ad- ,instable male and female members, said male member comprising a longitudinallysplit, expanded inner end portionfor frictionally securing said members against relative longitudinal movement.

2. A gauge of the character described compris- JOHN A. CROSTON. 

